Ohtani, star-studded U.S. eye World Baseball Classic crown

Japan will win the series hand down with the USA being Japan only competitive team to challenge Japan dominance in the Great game.

Japan dominance in the Great game.

Japan wins because it takes this tournament really, really seriously. The US players, by stark contrast, are, like, whatever. It's hard to exaggerate the intensity of Japanese patriotism and national pride when it comes to international competition.

John-SanToday  06:22 am JST

Japan will win the series hand down with the USA being Japan only competitive team to challenge Japan dominance in the Great game.

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You completely and totally forgot about the Dominican Republic.

For all intents a purposes, this looks like a japan vs DR championship.

No chance the finals will always be held in the USA because that the way it been and will always be. If the USA did not take this world comp seriously they allowed the finals to be held in other countries. That why it the USA will be in the finals.

The US team has a great batting order but the pitching isn't so great. The DR has a better all-around team.

This WBC has been held 4 times, Japan won the first two, the DR won one and the USA has won one. Don't forget Cuba, they always have strong teams. Japan has a very strong team and is probably the favorite since many of the top American players will not be playing. 70% of all MLB Pro's are from the USA itself but you know baseball... it is a streaky sport and anyone can win with good pitching.

Dominican Republic and Venezuela are notable contenders. S. Korea has a strong infield so I wouldn't count them out just yet. Anything can happen, after watching the Chunichi Republic of Dragons destroy Japan the first practice game (I know it doesn't count but still it's the freaking Japanese version of the Oakland A's!), I'm not too sure I can say it'd be an instant victory for Japan to go to the quarterfinals. This game is also about who is hot at the right time.

I alway fought that baseball should have more emphasis on a world competition. The way it been for years is that money win over pure competition. USA should allow selected players play and represent their countries of origin during the MBL proper season similar to Test cricket. Where Competition takes precedence over Clubs. At the moment the MBL World Series take precedence of World competition. It the greatest ball and bat game in the world and should be more represented world wide with more emphasis on the world competition. I know I face unroll opposing from the USA and Canada Blue Jays fans but it will make for better competition all round and more prestige to represent or Country of Origin. This should be named the Country of Origin series.

This is a kind of If a tree falls in a forest and no-one is around to hear it.. situation.

Ohtani, star-studded U.S. eye World Baseball Classic crown

Star-studded, maybe so, but not sure about "eye World." He is a great baseball player at such a young age and great for him that he's doing well.

However, I'm not sure that he's actually "eye World." I've asked some of my friends around the World, especially in the US. Most of them never heard of him and even in the news in the US, not much of anything gets mentioned about him. Just setting the facts straight. I have family in Mexico, and none of them have heard of him.

Japan wins because it takes this tournament really, really seriously. The US players, by stark contrast, are, like, whatever. It's hard to exaggerate the intensity of Japanese patriotism and national pride when it comes to international competition.

True. From my experience living in Japan, I see junior and senior high school baseball players practice all year long when I commute to work on weekends. They sure take their baseball seriously. It's also fun to watch for a few minutes before heading off to work. Great for them!

@Chico, you don’t seem to understand what the headline says.

The US team is only slightly "star studded." There are a lotta superstars players sitting it out (again). The Dominicans have a lot of hot MLBers on their team. I'm guessing either Japan or DR, esp. with SD Padres' Soto and Machado playing together. is gonna take the title.

Baseball,world, oxymoron.

piskianToday  06:05 pm JST

Baseball,world, oxymoron

*/////How many countries play baseball? 129 nations/members across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania play baseball.** /////*

Check the following link.

https://wezen-ball.com/how-many-countries-play-baseball/

No chance the finals will always be held in the USA because that the way it been and will always be.

The WBC tournament will always be centered in the USA because the WBC is a tournament created by the MLB and MLBPA

The IOC told the MLB that if it wants baseball to be a permanent part of the Olympics, it needs to increase the country participation in the world. Hence the WBC